Death by Chocolate Pumpkin Muffin by Sarah Graves

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Death by Chocolate Pumpkin Muffin

by Sarah Graves

Series: Death by Chocolate Mysteries #8
Series Rating:
Published by Kensington Cozies on April 29, 2025
Setting: Eastport, Maine
Genres: Cozy Culinary Mystery
Pages: 272
Format: Kindle, Paperback
Source: the Publisher
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Get Your Copy at: Amazon

One of the sweetest places to visit in Eastport, Maine, is Jacobia “Jake” Tiptree and Ellie White’s bakery, the Chocolate Moose, where people treat themselves to the most decadent desserts. But the island town also seems to cater to those with bitter dispositions . . .

Decorations of cobwebs and creatures are just being taken down across Eastport’s picturesque houses as the community says farewell to Halloween and ushers in winter with the unique confectionaries found only at the Chocolate Moose. Revelers have gathered on the waterfront for a party at local celebrity Hank Rafferty’s ramshackle mansion, known as Stone House. The home repair TV show star and his guests await a devilish dessert delivery from Jake and Ellie—who arrive just after Hank falls to his death from the house’s turret’s balcony.

Despite his show’s popularity, Hank was not exactly beloved in Eastport, prompting the police to conduct a homicide investigation. Their number one suspect is the temperamental boyfriend of police chief Lizzie Snow, whom Hank openly hit on during the party. Although he may be hotheaded, Lizzie doesn’t believe her boyfriend is capable of killing anyone.

And neither do Jake and Ellie. Plenty of people had motive to want Hank dead—a disillusioned admirer, a school bully, and a discontent wife among them. Did any of them take the murderous plunge, or is there another ghost in Hank’s shady past yet to be revealed?

Death by Chocolate Pumpkin Muffin by Sarah Graves has Ellie bringing Jake to an investigation.

Will Ellie and Jake solve Hank Rafferty’s death?

Jacobia “Jake” Tiptree

Jake is the point-of-view character and one of the two sleuths in this series. She lives in an old house with four generations living under one roof. I honestly have no clue how she deals with all of that. Jake co-owns the Chocolate Moose bakery in Eastport with Ellie. When these two aren’t on a sleuth mission, they can be found there. Jake seems like a good character.

I had a hard time connecting to Jake.

The Mystery

Ellie accepts a job without talking it over with Jake about delivering some baked goods to Hank Rafferty’s house for a party he’s hosting. Jake is already unsure about it since Stone House, Hank’s house, is supposedly haunted. Ellie wants to investigate to help clear Ellie’s daughter’s friend’s name, and then it spirals down. I had a feeling about who did it and why, and I was right. Didn’t expect the accomplices, though.

Three Stars

My rating for Death by Chocolate Pumpkin Muffin by Sarah Graves is three stars. Reading this book without having read any of the others put me at a disadvantage. I think that this series needs to be read in order to get everything in all of the books.

Ms. Graves has a recipe at the back of the book for Glazed Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins.

Death by Chocolate Mysteries

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Death by Chocolate Pumpkin Muffin by Sarah Graves.

Until the next time,

Happy Reading!

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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2025 Cloak and Dagger
• 2025 Craving the Cozies
• 2025 Cruisin' thru the Cozies
• 2025 Goodreads RC
• 2025 Medical Examiner Mystery RC

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